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[jerry113]

I'm looking for a smaller notebook/journal to jot ideas down. Something that I can carry around with me on the go, and with a hard cover that's durable.

I looked at moleskine journals but is it just me or are they a little expensive? $16-17 for a notebook on amazon? I dunno.

Got any alternatives you'd recommend? Help me be able to write down my inspirations, my fellow GAFers!

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

Franklin-Cristoph makes quality journals.
http://www.franklin-christoph.com/paper.html

 

[Bagels]

I'm looking for a smaller notebook/journal to jot ideas down. Something that I can carry around with me on the go, and with a hard cover that's durable.

I looked at moleskine journals but is it just me or are they a little expensive? $16-17 for a notebook on amazon? I dunno.

Got any alternatives you'd recommend? Help me be able to write down my inspirations, my fellow GAFers!

There are plenty of great alternatives, but most cost the same or more. The problem with Moleskines is that they are faux-luxury. The paper is shit and the materials are garbage overall. You are paying for the aura of hipster credibility. Franklin-Cristof, Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Seven Seas Writer...there are plenty of quality notebooks out there made from beautiful materials, but you're looking at $15-30 for a nice notebook.

 

[ElTorro]

Yeah, Moleskines are nothing special. Honestly, I would just go to Amazon and buy the first book that has good reviews and meets your price expectations. If you're satisfied, continue buying it. That's how I chose the last one I bought (from a local brand), and I had no complaints.

 

[AMUSIX]

Perhaps Bagels knows?

or check Bagels' paper thread...he's got a number of journal suggestions in it
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=898715

 

[temp]

I'm pretty happy with the Baron Fig dot matrix. But it's also a ~$15 book.

http://www.baronfig.com/pages/confidant

 

[M52B28]

Markings by C.R Brooks is what I use. It's a pretty good writers book.

 

[Bboy AJ]

Moleskin is the Bose of notebooks.

 

[ThusZarathustra]

I use Leuchtturm 1917 Medium Dot Grid notebooks because I am a massive hipster. I was using them before Rust Cohle made the brand cool. Leuchtturm is expensive but good. Dot grid is the shit. That is all

 

[jtb]

Moleskin is the Bose of notebooks.

Yup. stick to legal pads.

 

[Seductivpancakes]

Perhaps Bagels knows?

or check Bagels' paper thread...he's got a number of journal suggestions in it
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=898715

Is that his hand writing in all those picture? If his hand writing is pretty great.

My hand writing is chicken scratch. I want to improve it.

 

[kr2t0s]

I know you said hardcover but what you are really looking for is:

http://fieldnotesbrand.com

They even have a few blogs that just cover the notebooks themselves such as this one http://www.threestaples.com

 

[Bagels]

Is that his hand writing in all those picture? If his hand writing is pretty great.

My hand writing is chicken scratch. I want to improve it.

Yes it is.

 

[MaschinenZimmer]

Moleskin is the Bose of notebooks.

Yup, overpriced and for hipsters.

 

[Buddha Beam]

I have a Moleskine grid notebook I use for website and UI ideas. I like it and I've had it long enough to where I feel like it's paid for its value by now. But what do you guys feel makes a good notebook? I mean, honestly I'd be happy just using a graph paper notepad, but this looks a little more professional at work and in front of clients. That seems to be the only legitimate plus to it...

 

[NimbusD]

Perhaps Bagels knows?

or check Bagels' paper thread...he's got a number of journal suggestions in it
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=898715

Oh man, this is great! Reminds me of my print professor in college. I forgot how great really nice paper is.

 

[Krauser Kat]

http://fieldnotesbrand.com/

i always have a couple of these around.

 

[Bagels]

Is that his hand writing in all those picture? If his hand writing is pretty great.

My hand writing is chicken scratch. I want to improve it.

Yes it is! And thanks!

*This was not supposed to be a repeat post, but it freaking is! Argh!

 

[giga]

Black N Red is a good bet at $10.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JCPP9A/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Not sure why people are recommending field notes when op asked for hardcover..

 

[Alcotholic]

I tried using them, but the pens I use leak through the pages and if I use pencils it tends to smear. So I've given up on them. I don't know what to recommend for note pads. Get something standard. Don't spend too much on them.

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

Honestly I just grab Black and Reds, Rhodias if I feel like burning money. All I care about is how the paper feels, and Moleskine paper has always felt flimsy to me.

 

[GrizzNKev]

The memo app on my phone is pretty solid

 

[giga]

I have a Moleskine grid notebook I use for website and UI ideas. I like it and I've had it long enough to where I feel like it's paid for its value by now. But what do you guys feel makes a good notebook? I mean, honestly I'd be happy just using a graph paper notepad, but this looks a little more professional at work and in front of clients. That seems to be the only legitimate plus to it...

Paper quality. Moleskine paper is flimsy and bleeds through my ink. You should get a Leuchtturm1917 next time. It's basically a higher quality Moleskine for around the same price.

http://www.amazon.com/Leuchtturm-Notebook-Hardcover-Dotted-Medium/

 

[Akira]

Check out this thread: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=966536

From that thread, I really like the Traveler's Notebook by Midori.

Bumping this and aware that this won't be of interest to almost anyone, but Midori is releasing a 2015 special edition of their Midori Traveler's Notebook:

I personally bought a brown Traveler's Notebook to accompany me during my 3 weeks trip to India and I wrote a bunch of things on it with accompanying sketches that, looking back at now, make me glad I did this. It doesn't need to be a Traveler's Notebook obviously, but the leather quality is great, the paper quality is great too, and while slightly expensive, it was worth it for me.

Hahah, yeah the Limited Edition is releasing on the 13th of next month, and I might buy it even though I already own the brown cover.

BTW, today I'm sick at home so I took a few photos of my journal. This is an example of the kind of stuff I did during my trip to India. I blurred out the text because my English is still terrible (I'm from Spain but try to write in English for practice).

 

[unholyrevenger72]

Boom.
http://www.fivestardirect.us/fivestar/browse/product/Style+Hardbound+Composition+Notebook/09274C

 

[TheGoddamn]

Hobonichi Techo A6 or A5, depending on your needs.

(Thank god for you, Bagels)

 

[mrklaw]

I just use red&blacknbecause that's what the office stationary cupboard used to have. Sturdy, ring bound so you can fold it flat, perforated pages so you can easily remove them, elastic strap for marking your place.

Function > form for these kinds of things.

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

Expensive, but worth it. Love moleskin notebooks and I wouldn't try another brand.

 

[Gnome]

My brother loves Moleskine for quick pencil sketching on the go, but If you're not using pencil I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[giga]

Expensive, but worth it. Love moleskin notebooks and I wouldn't try another brand.

Why? Even when others have consistently reviewed better?

 

[Bagels]

Expensive, but worth it. Love moleskin notebooks and I wouldn't try another brand.

Expensive and NOT worth it. Every aspect, from cover material to paper, is designed to look high quality if you don't actually look closely at it.

Rhodia's Webnotebook is better in every way, and actually worth it.

 

[soco]

What about those cheap black & white bound books? Don't they sell those still?

 

[Keyser Soze]

I've ordered from these guys in the past (located in Canada), as they do good Handbound/Handmade books that I really like. I got one of the really big one, and two smaller ones with me right now.

http://www.mbpublishinghouse.com/store

They seem happy to do custom orders, and have good comunication with inquires - http://www.mbpublishinghouse.com/info

/

 

[GG-Duo]

Yeah screw Moleskine. They got too greedy and now puts out an inferior product.

 

[DOWN]

Rhodia is my new favorite. Feels like strong quality overall.

Clairefontaine and Quo Vadis are nice.

Leuchtturm and Field Notes are good too.

But honestly Moleskine ain't bad. They are nicely styled, even if weaker in value over their lesser known competitors.

 

[Always-honest]

Any good gor drawing?

 

[sycam0re]

I disagree with the disdain pointed at moleskine. The quality of the sketchbook paper is amazing

 

[20cent]

Go to a stationary shop, not a shop selling Moleskine notebooks between iPhone cases and Dan Brown books, any alternative cost $1-2. They have all sizes, bindings or paper types you like

 

[Korey]

 

[PaulExcellent]

My college has stacks of the Evernote Moleskine notebooks for like, $6, so I use that for notes and such.
I'll be using that for my traveling next semester, too. Still, I would love a notebook that actually lays flat on a surface. :/

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

I disagree with the disdain pointed at moleskine. The quality of the sketchbook paper is amazing

Have you used any of the alternatives listed here?

 

[Like the hat?]

I know you said hardcover but what you are really looking for is:

http://fieldnotesbrand.com

They even have a few blogs that just cover the notebooks themselves such as this one http://www.threestaples.com

I carry either a field notes or a rite in the rain notebook with me everywhere I go. Both are great.

 

[Nander]

Whitelines is where it's at:

They are not super cheap (this one is $14 on Amazon) but they are worth it.

 

[Acrylic7]

Any good gor drawing?

Whatever you do just don't use Moleskin. The hype is false.